Friday, June 30, 2017

The Women Working in Corrections and Juvenile Justice national
conference will be held October 14-17, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency, 1209 L
Street in Sacramento.

The conference will be hosted by the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation and the Correctional Peace
Officers Foundation. CDCR operates the California prison and parole
systems. Headquartered in Sacramento, it is the third largest law enforcement
agency in the United States. The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation is a
national non-profit charitable organization. Created in 1984, it supports the
surviving families of correctional officers who lose their lives in pursuit of
their chosen profession of protecting the public from those remanded to
correctional custody and supervision in the nation's prisons and jails.

“We are pleased to be part of this opportunity to invest
in women who work in adult and juvenile corrections not only in the state of California,
but at the national level as well,” CDCR Secretary Scott Kernan said. “Nearly
all of what I first learned about this profession was from my mother Peggy
Kernan, who worked in California corrections for 32 years. Women bring a unique
dynamic to the job and I learned that very early in life,” Secretary Kernan
added.

“The Correctional Peace Officers Foundations has
participated in the Women Working in Corrections and Juvenile Justice national
conferences for many years,” Glenn Mueller, Chairman of the CPOF Board of
Directors, said. “My correctional career has spanned more than 32 years and
I’ve worked with many outstanding women not only here in California but
nationally. I am personally looking forward to co-hosting this conference in
Sacramento,” Mueller added.

The first WWICJJ national conference was held in 1985 and
is held every even-numbered year in a different state. It has been held
previously in Arkansas, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan,
Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Each state
has a theme and each conference features speakers, training and events. The
theme of the 2018 WWICJJ conference is “Transcend.”

History of the
conference

Women have been involved in correctional work in the
United State since the 1700s. Their early efforts were primarily focused on
system reform and charitable acts toward prisoners. During the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, women could only work in female
institutions. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on sex
and in 1972, the prohibition of sex discrimination in employment was expanded
to state and local governments. The 1970s saw growing numbers of women entering
the corrections workforce.

The formation of a Women’s Task Force in 1979 by American
Correctional Association President Norman Carlson evolved into a Women Working
in Corrections Committee. The committee provided workshops and networking
opportunities to women working in the male-dominated corrections field.

As the number of women in the corrections and juvenile
justice professions increased, Dr. Bruce Wolford, Department of Correctional
Services, Eastern Kentucky University, recognized the need for more
developmental experiences for women, and he organized a group from the Kentucky
Corrections Cabinet and the Department of Social Services to develop what
became known as the first National Conference for Women Working in Corrections
and Juvenile Justice. The first program was held at Eastern Kentucky University
in 1985.

The 2018
conference

The WWICJJ 2018 national conference is open to all women
who work in the corrections and juvenile justice profession in any discipline,
including peace officers, health care providers, administrators and executives,
and will feature workshops, training, exhibits and opportunities for
networking.

The theme of the 2018 conference is “Transcend.” Workshops
will be held to address organizational transformation and how correctional and
juvenile justice agencies are transcending traditional roles and evolving as
society’s expectations change. Speakers will provide training to help women transcend
gender-related occupational barriers and become effective leaders. And
workshops will be held to discuss strategies for helping offenders transcend
from a criminal to a law-abiding lifestyle.

To stay updated about the 2018 WWICJJ national conference,
visit the WWICJJ website at https://wwicjj.com/

On a warm Friday morning in Sacramento, the Law Enforcement Torch Run ended on the north steps of the State Capitol. Numerous Special Olympics athletes, law enforcement personnel and CDCR staff were on hand for the brief ceremony.

David Solo, president and CEO for Special Olympics of Northern California, said he’s grateful for the support of all the law enforcement agencies.

“We’re very blessed that Special Olympics is the charity of choice for law enforcement worldwide,” he said, calling the support and donations critical to the organization’s operation. “We don’t charge any fees for our athletes to participate. As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of our community. … CDCR is the number one fundraising agency in the Law Enforcement Torch Run.”

Undersecretary Toche speaks about CDCR's involvement in the torch run.

Diana Toche, Undersecretary of Health Care Services for CDCR, said she became involved because of a friend’s daughter, who is a Special Olympics athlete.

“Just to see the happiness that Special Olympics brings to folks is inspiring,” she said.

Undersecretary Diana Toche and Warden Joe Lizarraga are introduced

during the ceremony on the Capitol steps.

California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow listens

during the opening remarks of the ceremony.

Therese Giannelli, Community Resources Manager with CSP-Sacramento, was named 2016 Volunteer of the Year for Special Olympics of Northern California.

Therese Giannelli, an employee with CSP- Sacramento was named volunteer of the year for 2016. Allie Powell, Public Information Officer with the Office of Public and Employee Communications interviews her during a Facebook Live broadcast.

“It’s a huge honor. There are so many deserving people who volunteer countless hours,” she said. “(Inmates) donated over $8,000 per year in addition to what our staff does, which is probably another $6,000 to $8,000 being raised (at CSP-Sacramento).”

Jonathan Sparks, athlete with Special Olympics, sang the National Anthem during the Capitol ceremony.

“I do swimming. Yes, I am excited (for the games),” Sparks said. “(I’m excited) mainly for Special Olympics (since) this is how (it) financially survives. They raise money by the Torch Run, by the Tip-a-Cops, and other fundraisers. At the Summer Games tonight at UC Davis, they have an honor wall, so as the athletes come through, the law enforcement officers give the athletes high fives, which is very cool.”

Sparks has been involved with Special Olympics since the 1970s. Holly Stewart, OPEC employee helps with Facebook Live.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Sacramento – Secretary Scott Kernan attended the 2017 Northern California
Construction Training program in Rancho Cordova to help recognize 150 program
graduates preparing for careers in the building industry.

“This milestone is quite
significant for the graduates – your families and friends. For up to 12 months,
you have worked very hard and dedicated many hours to master technical and
other skills that will prepare you for a better future.

“I commend you on your
academic success, and for investing in your future. I also encourage you to use
your training to succeed in your chosen career,” Secretary Kernan said.

The training
program is open to anyone. However, through a partnership with the California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, dozens of the graduates are
former prison inmates.

“Our partnership with CDCR
has been rewarding for both of us and has helped bridged the gap between
incarceration and productive members of the communities,” President Bill Meehan
of Northern California Training and Construction said.

“I commend you on your academic success, and for investing
in your future. I also encourage you to use your training to succeed in your
chosen career,” Secretary Kernan said.

The program
provides students with an opportunity to gain construction skills and build a
successful career.

“Northern California Construction Training program gives people hope for a
better future,” said Dave Gordon, Superintendent of the Sacramento County
Office of Education.

During his
remarks, he highlighted several graduates for their academic success, and
recognized Sacramento County Chief Probation Officer Lee Seale for the
collaboration with his department that has contributed to significant program
expansions.

Left to right Dave Gordon, Superintendent, Sacramento County Office of Education, William (Bill) Meehan, President, Northern California Construction and Training, and Scott Kernan, Secretary, California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation

The program
may take between six and 12 months to complete, with instruction delivered by
credentialed teacher-trainers who are experienced in the construction field.

During the
program, students receive unpaid training in the classroom as well as hands-on building
experience in construction trades and work under the supervision of a
journeyman carpenter.

Students
receive hands-on building experience in construction trades and work under the
supervision of a journeyman carpenter.

During the
program, students also learn how to use the skills and training they learned in
the program to build small houses to provide transitional housing for homeless,
or by contributing to a single-family home construction project in Oak Park.

Students
with the Northern California Construction Training program contribute to a home
construction project in Oak Park

When students
successfully complete the training program, they are offered an opportunity to
join the construction trades apprenticeship training program.

Many
potential construction workers are not aware of the career opportunities
available to them.

Northern
California Construction Training provides classroom and

fieldwork
experience to prepare graduates for a rewarding career.

This is
especially true for women and diverse communities. The program was designed to
make well-paying careers in construction available to anyone with the desire to
complete the program and participate in apprenticeship training.

Northern
California Construction Training has served thousands of students in adult
programs, in-custody jail program, juvenile/youth programs, probation/parolee
programs and ROP high school program.

The program
and curriculum were approved by Sacramento County Office of Education.

“This is
an opportunity to get a career and totally change my life.

That’s what NCCT has
meant for me,” Brooks said.

During the event, Jotham
Brooks received more than a certificate program completion – he also received
keys to a truck which program staff helped him secure as he moves from
homelessness to a successful career.

Each year,
NCCT receives a donated vehicle, repairs and registers it, and awards it to a
deserving graduate.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

The California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation (CDCR) is hiring for specific classifications in correctional
education. These rewarding jobs will provide learning and training
opportunities to inmates within each prison to help with the rehabilitation of
inmates and prepare them to successfully transition back into the community.

The Office of Correctional Education (OCE) is part of
CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs. The OCE offers various academic and
education programs at each of California’s adult state prisons and has career
opportunities that include carpenters, cosmetologists, librarians, including
credentialed academic teachers.

The OCE staff makes a difference by helping inmate students learn new skills and
trades. Education is an important feature to rehabilitation and public safety.

A brief description and minimum qualifications for each position is listed
below:

Academic TeachersThe
OCE is seeking credentialed teachers to prepare adult inmates for high school
equivalency or diploma. Be a part of CDCR’s effort to improve public safety by
preparing inmates for successful community reentry.

Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a current California Teaching Credential issued by the
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Accepted credentials
include single subject, multiple subject, standard secondary with a major or
minor in an academic subject area, standard elementary or general secondary.
Emergency credentials are not accepted.

Minimum Qualifications:
Five years of trade-specific journeyman work experience; 48 semester units of
post-secondary vocational training related to a trade may be substituted for a
maximum of two years of work experience. Applicants must possess or acquire a
CTE credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
prior to employment with CDCR.

Library StaffThe
OCE is expanding programming and need Senior Librarians, Librarians and Library
Technical Assistants to provide offenders with legal resources, recreation and
educational materials. Library services offer an extensive collection of
recreational fiction and non-fiction books including high-interest books,
self-help and periodicals. Librarians provide legal research materials as
required by the courts and rehabilitative support services that contain
reference reading materials, periodicals, encyclopedias and materials to
support academic, career technical and college programs.

Minimum Qualifications:
Library Technical Assistant should have an associate of arts degree in library
science or two years of library experience. Librarian needs a bachelor’s degree
plus one year in library science master’s degree program. Senior Librarian
needs a bachelor’s degree plus one year in library science master’s degree
program and two years of CDCR Librarian experience (or three years of non-CDCR
Librarian experience).

You can view the various positions by clicking the
orange tab labeled “Choose an Education Career Bulletin.” Choose an area of
interest depending on your preferences. To apply for a position complete the
state application (STD. 678) and the specific “Qualification Assessment” for
the position. The state application can be found at https://jobs.ca.gov/pdf/std678.pdf

Print both documents and make sure to sign the application toward the bottom of
the first page. Scan the documents and email to CDCROCEJobs@cdcr.ca.gov